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CVLT Nation Interviews: VOLAHN + Full Stream

Labels: Ajna Offensive // Iron Bonehead Productions

How has 2014 been for yourself and the other members of the Black Twilight Circle?

Eduardo: It has been a monumental year for me, thanks to the support of all our fans in 2014. Volahn and Acualli summoning with Revenge in San Francisco was a grandiose ritual of barbaric evil never to be forgotten, hails to Yosuke/NWN for putting us on and supporting our circle. Volahn summoned our fist ritual in Mexico out in Juarez, a night of pure black metal violence as we mobbed the cartel-bloodstained streets. Summoning with our Mexican war brothers in Nyogthaeblisz, Satanik Goat Ritual, Hellvetron, Sacrocurse, Nexul, Obeisance and finally sharing the stage with the mighty Black Witchery at Do What Thou Wilt Festival Vol. 2 in El Paso, Texas was a total abomination to all mankind. Crepusculo Negro has been active for over 6 years now, releasing 29 titles to date. Releasing new Volahn album was historic for me to see all the work I put into it materialize. We all possess a competitive spirit which pushes us always to take our songwriting to the next level. I design my thoughts like a sculpture and always challenge myself to create something immense. Every song I have ever written always began with just one note, building up the notes like a temple until I reach the plateau of the song’s climax. It is a musical rite of passage that brings me closer to the chaos spirit, which I summon with our music.

I saw a poster for a European tour scheduled for November. Did this ever happen? If so, how was it? If not, what prevented it from taking place?

Eduardo: I postponed the tour to wait for new Volahn album to drop and to get more exposure. Thanks to Iron Bonehead Productions, we have definitely gotten our name out there and now that the album is out, the Volahn Euro tour will commence in 2015.

Your heritage and your day-to-day surroundings both clearly play a key part in the creation of your music – how often do you visit the places of your native roots?

Eduardo: I have traveled throughout Mexico, Guatemala and all over the US since I was young. It’s important for me to visit the places where my ancestors lived and evolved. It gives me inspiration and the foundation to continue with a pure consciousness. Volahn’s Mexico tour in 2015 will be a spiritual tour throughout the lands of the warriors of my people who fought and died for the glory of our Father War Sun in the sky. Brown Pride!!! 

Have you and the BTC achieved everything you set out to achieve this year? How much time was spent in the studio compared to playing shows?

Eduardo: My goal for 2014 was to release new Volahn album, and I am honored with how it came out. BHL/Volahn, Acualli/THP and the new Arizmenda albums were great achievements for us as we push our formulas to more extreme conditions. Much time was spent recording this year, and having Arthur Rizk mix and master our new releases at Solomons’s Gate has given us the professional quality sound we have been looking for. It is a special connection that works when there is an understanding of what the music needs regarding mixing and mastering, which is a art form in itself.

As a multi-instrumentalist and songwriter (drummer for Kallathon, bassist for Shataan, guitarist, vocalist and pretty much everything else for your own project!), do you find it difficult to dedicate time to all the individual projects you are a part of, or do you concentrate on one project at a time?

Eduardo: When I write material for BHL, for example, I converse with Tlacaelel regarding the lyrics and vision of the song to be written. Tlacaelel is the visionary of BHL and anyone that knows the history of our great Mexica ancestors will know that the great Tlacaelel of the 1400’s was also the principal visionary architect of the Aztec Triple Alliance and the Mexica (Aztec) empire, as the Tlacaelel of our time is today with BHL. Everyone in the circle is always working on new material – be it songs, lyrics, artwork, layouts, designs etc. The idea of what all our bands sound like has never changed, I maintain focus to elevate the formula that is our signature sound. The compositions are elevated, the drumming is elevated, the recording technique is elevated. We progress more extreme with every release and don’t plan on slowing down as I reach my moment of truth.

Murdunbad (Arizmenda) contributed his drumming skills to your new album Aq’Ab’Al – did you plan on stepping down from drumming duties for this album or was it one of those collaborations that just naturally came about?

Eduardo: It was a natural collaboration for Murdunbad to perform drums on the tracks on the new Volahn album. It was during the process of writing the songs that I would have Murdunbad play the beats. We rehearsed them, and after the song was complete, Murdunbad grasped the intentions of the drums accordingly to the song. It was meant to be, and his contribution was immeasurable to the completion of the album.

Aq’Ab’Al has now been released – what kind of reception has it received?

Eduardo: It has been overwhelming, I put the entirety of myself and my native Mayan culture into Aq’ab’al to create something eternal that will impact people long after I shed my mortal skin. Hail to all that supported and helped manifest my vision, including Arthur Rizk at Solomon’s Gate for his professional mix/master and understanding of my vision. It was an honor to have new Volahn album released by the biggest labels in the underground extreme metal scene, The Ajna Offensive and Iron Bonehead Productions. The quality and respect that was put into the vinyl packaging was tremendous. Only the highest quality materials were used, no words can express this feeling of pride and honor in my heart. I will say nothing else and let the music speak for itself.

You stated in a previous interview for Cvlt Nation that the new Axeman album will be out in 2015. What other projects have you or the BTC got lined up for next year?

Eduardo: The new Axeman will be a total flashback to 80’s metal/crust magic of the highest order. Their are many new albums, splits, comps, vhs lined up for 2015. I don’t want to give out to much info, but definitely expecta  new BHL album and Dolorvotre/Endless Humiliation split album out next. We plan on going hard for 2015 and continue the legacy of our aspirations. Nothing in this life is impossible, it all begins with the idea. Blood & Honor.